In the 1930s, at the height of the Great Depression, the federal government put thousands of unemployed writers to work in the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Out of their efforts came the American Guide series of books describing the people, resources, and traditions of each state in the union. This reproduction of the now-rare guide to South Dakota is a literate self-portrait of the state from nearly a century ago, where no driver's licenses are required, liquor cannot be sold on election days until after 5:00 p.m., the Morrell packing plant at Sioux Falls offers free tours on weekdays, and the recreational groups around state capital Pierre include polo riders and skeet shooters.